Andaman booklet aw.FH10 - Zoological Survey of India

Nicobar Scops-Owl Otus alius: The Nicobar Scops-owl is known
only from a single locality on Campbell Bay (Rasmussen 1998). The
species may occur on other islands in the group, but equally it may
be endemic to Great Nicobar, and indeed restricted in range on that
island. The most likely other island where it may be found is Little
Nicobar which, like Great Nicobar, is relatively poorly explored
(Rasmussen 1998).
Andaman Black Woodpecker Dryocopus hodgei:This Woodpecker
is Near Threatened species and endemic to the Andaman islands,
where it is a common resident in large trees of evergreen forest
(Davidar et al., 1996; Grimmett et al., 1998). Although forest remains
fairly extensive on the Andamans, the human population on larger
islands is rising rapidly and habitat is consequently under severe
pressure from agriculture, grazing and logging (Pande et al., 1991;
Stattersfield et al., 1998).
Andaman Drongo Dicrurus andamanensis: This Drongo is endemic
to the Andaman archipelago also recorded from Coco Island in
Myanmar, where it is a common resident of forests (Davidar et al.,
1996; Grimmett et al., 1998). Although its range is very small, forested
habitat is relatively intact on the Andamans and insufficiently
disturbed or fragmented to be of immediate concern.
Andaman Treepie Dendrocitta bayleyi: This Treepie is Near
Threatened and endemic to the Andaman archipelago, where it is
usually found in pairs or parties of up to 20 birds, or in mixed flocks
in tall trees in dense broadleaved evergreen forest (Grimmett et al.,
1998).
Importance of Protected areas
The protected areas are regarded as cornerstones of biodiversity
conservation. Creation of a sound network of PAs is regarded as the
best and only practical way for in situ conservation of biodiversity
in species rich countries (Glowka et al., 1994). The Andaman and
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